Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-03-23

to the purpose, but mum, mum, mum is
the word"
ooh, auntie, you have heard some
thing" cries Millicent, pouncing down
upon her. "You have had news, and,
naughty woman that you are, you have
hidden it from ME. Come, out with it!
Your blood will be upon your own head
if you delay for another moment"
|. "But assure you, my dearest girl"-
s'Your dearest girl is disgusted with
your duplicity. Come, speak, I say.
One, two-three will be your death sig
nal. Grant,, do you take no interest in
the proceedings? Are you not longing to
hear of the capture Of the capturer of my
sapphircs!"
She is kneeling beside Mrs. Brand,
having thrown her arms coaxingly
around her, so cannot see Grants face,
but she can hear his laugh.
.'Yes; let us know what kind of a fel-
low he is," he says.
"Nbnsense! OF course it has not come
to that yet, but there Is clew-a strong
clew! And oddly enough, the detective
tells me they believe our burglar is the
very one who had hand in abstracting
your mothers diamonds''-she is speak
ing now to Boyle; "that struck me as
being very remarkable"
"I,ooks US IL it was some one connected
zwitli the family e Yau will sbear lne out
that have all along directed attention
to the servants" says Grant. 1T Is q
Thousand pities this clever detective OF
yours was not called in at the Valworth
affair. I blame myself very much for
recommending Simpson, who really did
nothing, so fur as can hear.'
sThey are attaching a good deal of I'M
portancc to the handkerchief DIR. Thesby
took into his possession. They have
discovered something about that"
s'Indeed. It was common handker-
chief. think You told me-"
"Quite coarse"
swell, yop could hardly expect burg
lar to have cambria one."
Grant seems amused.
stMy burglar was not common man,
whatever your mothers may have been, !"
interposes Millicent. His voice cannot
describe, because it was distinctly feigncd;
but something in his whole air forbade
the thought that he was of the lower
classes. cannot explain; must only
ask you to try to understand and follow
me-"
The miscreant!" calculates Mrs Brand,
Indignantly.
"In spite of all really confess to feel
ing of sentimental regard for him." says
Millicent, gayly. He might have muir
dered me, but he refrained; and he was so
far removed from any suspicion Of mean
ness that he actually forced gift upon
me ere he left. Consider that, auntie,
and be more lenient in your abuse"
II dare say you will persuade yourself
by degrees that he fell in love with
you," says Mrs. Brand, who is q little
offended at any jesting on so solemn
subject.
"And why not, then! Am I not of a
presence sufficiently noble to cnthrall
this modern Turpin?' Miss Grey de-
mands this saucily of her aunt. Look
out for your laurels, Grant; there is q
rival in the field"
II know it, If you allude to Massar-
eene," replies lie in whisper, too low
for Mrs. Brand to hear.
Miss Grey colors viyidly.
"You mistake" she says, coldly. II
was alluding to the burglar"
"Ah of him I could never feel jeal-
ous," returns he, easily. "Of that you
may be positively certain"
He is still regarding her with gleam
of sarcastic amusement in his eyes, that
puzzles her and battles her to read, when
the door is thrown open and Mr.. Massar-
eene is announced.